Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Football (1937-40)

J.M. Carey was an outstanding football player on Savage teams during the 1937 through 1940 period. Born April 7, 1919 at Wirt, Oklahoma (near Healdton), Carey attended the Zaneis Public Schools where he graduated as valedictorian in 1937. During his high school years, he participated in both football and basketball. His basketball teams made three trips to the state tournament during those years.

Following high school graduation, Carey enrolled at Southeastern where he became an outstanding four year letterman on the Savage football team. He was a center on offense and a linebacker on defense. Coach Duane Fisher described him as an extremely good linebacker with a nose for the football. He was an intelligent, aggressive player. As an offensive center, he was an excellent blocker. The Savages ran from the single wing offense, and he was an excellent snapper both from that offense and as a deep snapper on punts.

J.M. Carey’s outstanding play resulted in his being named to the all-conference team of the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference both in 1939 and 1940.

Following graduation from Southeastern and three years in the Army Air Force during World War II, Carey taught and coached football and track in the Durant Public Schools until 1953. He then served as a school administrator at Davis for seven years before beginning a twenty year term as superintendent of the Velma-Alma Schools.

J. M. Carey was an excellent college football player. He was an outstanding school administrator for many years prior to his death on January 10, 1982. His life was a credit to Southeastern, his alma mater. In recognition of this, J.M. Carey was inducted posthumously into the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame on February 11, 1984.